Foldable stretcher carrier for ambulances



Deg. 14, 1948/ E. L. SCHOFIELD FOLDABLE STRETCHER CARRIER FOR AMBULANCES2 Sheets-Sheec l Filed March 5, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet? Willi 1.

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E. L. SCHOFIELD FOLDABLE STRETCHER CARRIER FOR AMBULANCES Dec. 14, 1948.

Filed March 5, 1945 Patented Dec. 14, 1948 UNITED ps TATE PATENT OFFICE's'rnn'ronnn CARRIER FOR AMBULANCES cEarl L; 'Schofield, Rockford,.Ill., assignor to .E. L.

Schofield, Incorporated, Rockford, 111., a corporation of DelawareA11pli'cat'ion Marc'h 5, 1945, Serial No. 581,003 .6 Claims. (01.296-19.)

calto carryfour :stretchers at a time, two on the foldable carriers andthe other two on the'.flOOI -therebeneath.@ a I 2 'Theprincipal objectormy invention :iszto pro- :vide a foldable carrier which hasroller trackchannels along the opposite sides thereof :serv- .ing :as guides tcrithesupporting rollersion an extensible on whichithe stretcher is placed,

said rack having means ,for; releasably vlocking the vsame "in retractedposition releasable manually from the rear end of, the carrier frame,and also means to limit the outward movement relative to the carrier:frame and lock it :releasably in the extended position,preferablyautilizing the same'man-ually releasable: catch dorsthispurpose.

Another object-is to provide a carrier assembly ofthekin-d mentionedthat is hinged longitudinally at the lower end so as to fold up flushwith the interior side wall of the ambulance, said assembly moving pasta dead-center in folding, so that it tends to move outwardly toward thewall and there is less likelihood of itsaccidentally unfolding, andthere is less :strain upon releasable catch means to .retain theassembly in folded position. I 1

Still another object is to provide a stretcher carrier foldable in themanner described in which the downward movement is checked bytelescoping members, one of which houses a compression. spring arrangedto be compressed by the other member to correctly counterbalance theweight of the carrier assembly as'its center .of gravity moves outwardlyaway from the side wall ofthe ambulance in the downward move- .ment ofthe carriertoward operative i Osition, the downward movement beingpositively limited but suitably cushioned so :as to provide steadysupport for the carrier inits operative position. The counterbalancingmeans is so designed that it is practically flush with the interior sidewall of the ambulance when the carrierassembly is in retractedpositiong-and is high enough in relation to the floor so as not tointerfere with placing a stretcher on the'floor beneath the carrier whenthe carrier is lowered to its operative position The invention isillustrated in thesaccompanying drawings, in-which---' a Fig. '1 isa-"longitudinal section through an 2 ambulance-equipped with theimproved stretcher carrier made in accordance with my invention,illustrating how it enables convenient storage iof'stretcherszat twolevels, so that four stretchers canv be :carr'iedat a time;

Fig. 211's a icr'ossesection in the plane "of the line 12-! of .Fig. .1,showing the front carrier supporting arm;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section in the plane of the linens-+3 of Fig. 1-,showing the telescoping rear support .for the carrier assembly, and

Figs. 4 :and 5 .are enlarged sectional details in "planes at rightangles to one another, showing the roller track channels for theextensible rack and the releasable catch, Fig. 5 being taken on the line5-5 of Fig. 4.

The same reference numerals are applied to corresponding partsthroughout the views.

The ambulance herein disclosed is designed to accommodate as many asfour standard Red Cross or Army type stretcher-s at a time, two beingplaced side by :side on the floor 6 and two I being placed on the novelcarriers 1 provided in accordance with my invention, supported on andswingableoutwardly from the opposite side walls 8; Such stretchers areindicated at s in Figs. .1, 2, arr-d3. The ambulance is also intended to'be used in the evacuation of children and old people :trom places'underbombardment, and for use in the 'transportation'oi less seriouslyinjured persons in any seats 9 are'provide'd on both sides of theambulance hinged, as indicated at 'l0,.to the inner side walls-H of thelower side storage compartments l2 to be swung down for use wheneverthey are required. Fixed backs I3 for these seats are provided directlyabove the storage compartments 1'2. Coiled tension springs I4, of whichany suitable num'ber may be provided in longitudinally spaced relationto each of the seatsas, have one end 15 attached to the wall l I and theother end l6 attached to the seat in such relationship to the hinge axisprovided by the hinges In that the seat will be held in raised positionor lowered position under spring tension, a line drawn through thepoints [5 and [6 Passing a dead-center position with respect to a lineintersecting the points l0 and 15 in the movement. of the seat from theone extreme position to the other, as should'be clear from inspection ofFig. 3. A separate seat I! is provided in front of the seats 9 behindthe drivers seat l8 to accommodate attendants when the ambulance iscarrying stretcher patients. Good ventilation is assured through thelongitudinally extending emergency, and for that reason duct I!) whichhas an air intake at its front end with suitable baffles to slow downthe air flow to the desired extent in the fast movement of theambulance, the fresh air being delivered into the top of the ambulancefrom the duct l9 through openings 22. A damper 23 hinged at its upperend is provided in the rear upper portion of the ambulance body for theexhausting of foul air. Suitable provision may be made for releasablysecuring the damper 23 in any desired open position, indicated in dottedlines, to provide the desired ventilation, or the damper may be lightenough to open by itself under the air pressure thereon in the movementof the ambulance to act as a breather valve for continuous ventilationof the ambulance.

Each of the carriers ll comprises a generally rectangular frame 25having two or more arms 26 in longitudinally spaced relation projectingfrom the outer side thereof toward the adjacent side wall 8 of theambulance body and suitably pivotally connected thereto, as indicated at21 in Fig. 3, for swinging movement from the horizontal operativeposition shown in full lines in Figs. 2

and 3 to the raised or folded vertical position, in-

dicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, in which'it lies substantially flushwith the inside of the wall 8. Suitable anti-rattle bumpers 28 areprovided in the top and bottom of the storage compartments 29 providedfor the carriers 1 in the side walls 8,

and these bumpers are engaged by the channel track portions 30 of theextensible racks 3! on the carrier frames 25 to reduce likelihood ofnoise when the carriers are folded to their retracted positions. vided,as indicated in Fig. 3, to lock the carriers releasably in the foldedretracted position. In the lowered operative position, each of thecarrier frames 25 is supported at the front end by a suspension arm 33which is pivotally connected at its lower end, as at 34, to the carrierframe 25 at a predetermined distance radially from the pivotal axis 27,and has a slidable pivotal connection 35 at its other end in thelongitudinally slotted attaching plate 36, which in turn is suitablysecured to the side wall 8 in the front end of the storage compartment29. This pin-andslot connection at 35-35 permits the carrier 1 to foldup into the storage compartment 29, the

arm 33 in this folding movement moving upwardly to the dotted positionindicated in Fig. 2. The arm 33 has the bend 37 therein intermediate theends thereof, so as to clear the bottom of the adjacent handle 38 of thestretcher'S placed on the rack 31.

The rear end of each carrier frame 25 is supported from beneath by atelescoping form of prop arm 39, the inner piston-like member 40 ofwhich is pivotally'connected to the rear end of the frame, as at 4!, ata predetermined radial distance from the pivotal axis 27, and the outeror cylinder member 42 of which is pivotally connected with respect tothe side wall 8 of the ambulance at a point 43 substantially below thepivotal axis 27 on the top wall of the storage compartment I2, asclearly appears in Fig. 3. The upper end portion of the member 40 isenlarged with respect to the portion working in the cylinder 42, wherebyto define an annular shoulder 44 for compression of a rubber bumper ring45 between the members 40 and 42 at the lower limit of swinging movementof the carrier frame, thus reducing likelihood of any rattling in themovement of the ambulance. A coiled compression spring 46 is housed inthe cylinder 42 Suitable spring latches 32 are proand is subjected to apredetermined amount of compression in the lowering of the carrier frame25 and is of a proper size to substantially counterbalance the weight ofthe carrier assembly Z53l as the center of gravity of this mass movesoutwardly away from the side wall 8 in the lowering of the assembly tothe horizontal operative position. This makes for maximum safety for theoperator. In the raising of the carrier assembly toward its foldedposition, it is obvious that the spring 46 will assist in thisoperation, the spring 46 expanding to some extent through part of thisupward movement and being compressed to some extent through the rest ofthis upward movement, said spring being preloaded sufficiently in theinstallation of the assembly to exert some appreciable pressure on theinner end of the member 40 throughout the upward movement of the carrierassembly. In the upward movement, it is apparent that the spring 46first expands, and at an intermediate position the pivots 4|, 2! and 43come into alignment on a dead-center where the spring is expanded to itsgreatest extent, and beyond that point the spring 46, being subject to asmall amount of compression, offsets to some extent the fact that thecenter of gravity of the carrier assembly mass itself moves past adead-center position with respect to the pivotal axis 21, causing thesame to tend to swing outwardly under its own weight toward the sidewall 8, as should be clear from inspection of Fig. 3, so that thecarrier assembly is urged outwardly into tight contact with the bumpers28 when the carrier assembly enters the storage compartment 29. That isto say, the catches 32 are not relied upon solely to hold the carrierassembly in folded retracted position, and if an unauthorized personwere to open the latch 32 no harm would be done, because the carrierassembly would not immediately move outwardly. Suitable handles 41 areprovided on the frames 25, as shown in Fig. 3, to enable pulling theframes outwardly and downwardly toward the unfolded operative position.

The frames 25 have roller guide track channels 48 provided thereon alongopposite sides thereof in which rollers 49 mounted on the under side ofthe racks 3| are arranged to run for antifriction rolling support of theracks 3 l. The racks are arranged to move rear-wardly with respect tothe carrier frames through the rear door opening 50,as indicated in Fig.1, to facilitate the placing of the stretchers S thereon and the removalof said stretchers therefrom. A pair of notched strikers 5| and 52 areprovided in 1ongitudinally spaced relation on the side of one of thechannels 30 of each of the racks 3! for engagement interchangeably witha spring-pressed Y catch 53 that is pivotally mounted, as at 54, on therear cross-member 55 of the carrier frame 25, whereby to lock the rack3| in either its fully extended or fully retracted position. The spring56 tends normally to urge the catch 53 upwardly toward engagement in thenotch 51 of either of the strikers 5| and 52, and there are cam surfaces58 on these strikers on opposite sides of the notch 51 for engagement ofthe catch 53 automatically in the notches of these strikers when therack is moved lengthwise relative to the carrier frame toward either ofthe two extreme positions. The projecting handle portion 59 on the freeend of the catch is easily accessible for the operator from the rear ofthe ambulance when the rear door is opened, whereby to permit release ofthe catch when either of the racks 3i is'to be extended for the loadingor unloading of a, stretcher. This handle 59 is also easily accessiblefrom the rear of the ambulance in the extended position of the rack, sothat the catch an be released to permit return movement of the rackafter a stretcher has been loaded thereon or'removed therefrom. I

The present design of stretcher carrier is of I advantage'from thestandpoint that the stretcher is kept in a horizontal position at alltimes and there is no jolting or jarring of the stretcher 1 necessary inthe loading or unloading operations.

From the constructional standpoint, the mounting of the carriers on theside walls gives maximum interior head room, which is important; wherethe vehicle is to be used also as a bus for carrying passengers, theseats 9 being provided for that purpose. The mounting of the stretchercarriers on the side walls also is of advantage in lowering the centerof gravity of the vehicle as;

a whole, so that there is less inclination to side sway or tipping ingoing around corners at high speed.

islt isbelieved the foregoing description conveys a good understandingof the objects and advan-- '1. In an ambulance, comprising a bodyhaving: substantially vertical side walls and a floor, a

stretcher support comprising an elongated frame extending longitudinallywithrespect to the body for support of astretcher, means for pivotallysupporting said frame on one longitudinal edge portion thereof -ontheadjacent side wall for swinging movement-upwardly from asubstantially horizont'alop'erative"position to a substantially verticalretracted .position alongside said wall,'said pivoting means being soarranged with respect to said frame and side wall that the frame swingspast a dead-center position in moving upwardly toward"it's' retractedposition, whereby said. frame tends to gravitate toward said side wallwhen in retracted position; means for rel'easably securing "said framein retracted position, and means for supporting said frame in horizontal operative position, said means comprising telescoping members,one of which is pivoted to the frame radially outwardly from the pivotalaxis of said frame on said side wall and the other of which is pivotedon said side wall below said pivotal axis, and a coiled compressionspring means arranged to be compressed in the contracting movement ofsaid telescoping members and arranged to expand throughout the extendingmovement of said telescoping members, wherel by said spring means in atleast the last portion of the lowering of the frame counterbalances theweight thereof and in at least the first portion of the raising of theframe assists such operation.

2. In an ambulance, comprising a body having substantially vertical sidewalls and a floor,

a stretcher support comprising an elongated frame extendinglongitudinally with respect to the body for support of a stretcher,means for pivotally supporting said frame on one longitudinal edgeportion thereof on the adjacent side wall for swinging movement upwardlyfrom a substantially horizontal operative position to a substantiallyvertical retracted position alongside said wall, said pivoting meansbeing so arranged with respect to said frame and side wall that theframe swings past a dead-center position in moving upwardly toward itsretracted position,

wherebyisaid frame tends to gravitate toward said side wall when inretracted position, means forreleasably securing said frame in retractedposition, and means for supporting said frame in horizontal operativepositiomsaid means comprising telescoping members, one of which ispivoted to the frame radially outwardly from the pivotal axis of saidframe on said side wall and the other of which is pivoted on said sidewall below said pivotal axis, a coiled compression spring means arrangedto be compressed in the contracting movement of said telescoping membersand arranged to expand throughout the extending movement of saidtelescoping members, whereby said spring means in at least the lastportion of the lowering of the frame counterbalances the weightthereofand in at least the first portion of the raising of the frame assistssuch operation, and sound deadening means positively limiting thecontracting movement of said telescoping members.

3. In an ambulance, comprising a body having substantially vertical sidewalls and a floor,

a stretcher support comprising an elongated frame extendinglongitudinally with respect to the body for support of a stretcher,means for pivotally supporting said frame on one longitudinal edgeportion thereof on the adjacent side wall for swinging movement upwardlyfrom a substantially horizontal operative position to a substantiallyvertical retracted position alongside said wall, means for releasablysecuring said frame in retracted position, and means for supporting saidframe in horizontal operative position, said means comprisingtelescoping members, one of which is pivoted to the frame radiallyoutwardly from the pivotal axis of said frame on said side wall and theother of which is pivoted on said side wall below said pivotal axis, anda coiled compression spring means arranged to be compressed in thecontracting movement of said telescoping members and arranged to expandthroughout the extending movement of said telescoping members, wherebysaid spring means in at least the last portion of the lowering of theframe counterbalances the weight thereof and in at least the firstportion of the raising of the frame assists such operation.

4. In an ambulance, comprising a body having substantially vertical sidewalls and a floor, a stretcher support comprising an elongated frameextending longitudinally with respect to the body for support of astretcher, means for pivotally supporting said frame on one longitudinaledge portion thereof on the adjacent side wall for swinging movementupwardly from a substantially horizontal operative position to asubstantially vertical retracted position alongside said wall, saidpivoting means being so arranged with respect to said frame and sidewall that the frame swings past a dead-center position in movingupwardly toward its retracted position, whereby said frame tends togravitate toward said side wall when in retracted position, and meansfor supporting said frame in horizontal operative position, said meanscomprising telescoping members, one of which is pivoted to the frameradially outwardly from the pivotal axis of said frame on said side walland the other of which is pivoted on said side wall below said pivotalaxis, and a coiled compression spring means arranged to be compressed inthe contracting movement of said telescoping members and arranged toexpand throughout the extending movement of said telescoping members,whereby said spring niea'ns'in at least the-last portion of the loweringof the :frame counterbal'ances ,Jthe "weight thereof'and inatJleastth'e-first .portion "of the raising of the frame assists suchoperation.

' 5.v In an ambulance, comprising :a. body having substantially verticalside walls and. a floor, a

stretcher support comprising an elongated" frame extendinglongitudinallywith: resp'ecttothe body "for support of .a stretcher, means for-pivotally supporting said frame :on, one longit'u'dinalx-e'dg'e portionthereof on the adjacent side wall for swinging movement upwardlyfrom :asubstantially horizontaloperative position -:to "a'substantiallyvertical ,retracted position alongsidesai'd -Wall, -said pivoting meansbeing so arranged with respect to said frame andside wall that the:frame swings past a dead-center positionin moving-upwardly towarditsretracted position, whereby -said frame tends to gravitate-toward saidside Wall when in retracted position, and :means, for supporting saidframe in horizontaloperativeposition," said means comprising telescopingmembers, oneof which is pivoted to the frameradially outwardly fromthepivotal axis of said frame on said side wall and the other of whichispivoted on ;S-3,i d side wall below said pivotal axis, a coiled'compressionspring means arranged to-be compressed in the contractingmovementof said telescoping members and arranged to expand throughouttheextending movement; of said telescopingmembers, whereby saidspring-means in at least the last portion of the lowering of the framecounterbalanoes the Weight thereof and in at least'the first portion ofthe raising of the frame assists such-operation, and sound deaden--stjantially vertical retracted position alongside said wall, ;means forreleasably securing said frame inretracted position, and means forsupportin'gn'saidframe in horizontal 'operativeposition, saidmeans-comprising telescopingmembers, one of which is pivoted to'theframe radially outwardly from the pivotal axis of said frame on saidside wall and :theother of which is pivoted on said-side wallabelow saidpivotal axis, a coiled compression spring-means arranged to becompressed. in the. contracting movement of said telescoping, :membersand arranged a to expand throughout the extending movement of saidtelescoping members, whereby said spring -means in at least the lastportion of the lowering offthe frame counterbalances the weight-thereofand in atle ast thefirst portion of the raisingof. the frame assistssuch operation, and sound deadening means positively limiting thecontracting movement of said "telescoping members. EARL L. SCHOFIELD.

"REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file'ofthis patent:

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